Effective Client Communication in Preconstruction and Construction Management

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

 

My wife and I recently moved into our new home, which provided me with a unique perspective on the importance of client communication in construction.  With seventeen years at The Douglas Company, I spent fifteen years in construction operations, and I know the amount of time and effort it takes to manage a construction project.  Knowing this, I wisely decided to hire a general contractor to build our home rather than taking on the responsibility myself.  Friends and colleagues often asked, “But Kevin, why didn’t you build your house yourself?” My response was simple: “Because I already have a full-time day job.” This decision allowed me to experience the project from the owner’s perspective.

As owners, my wife had the vision and I had the construction experience. It was my responsibility to make sure that vision came to be.  Drawing on my experience, I knew the significance of clearly communicating our...

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Streamlining Construction: Three Easy Design Review Checks to Save Time and Money

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

At The Douglas Company, with nearly 50 years of expertise as commercial general contractors in Ohio, Florida, and beyond, we understand that the success of a construction project hinges not just on the build itself but also on the meticulous planning and review that precedes it. A well-executed design review can prevent costly changes and delays down the line. Here’s a glimpse into our design review process and three essential checks we use to ensure your project runs smoothly from start to finish.

1. Review Utilities: Aligning the Essentials

Utilities are the backbone of any construction project. During our design review, we meticulously check the alignment of utility locations across civil, architectural, and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) drawings. It’s not uncommon to find discrepancies, such as water lines shown entering and emerging through the concrete slab in different locations across various drawings.

Our team also verifies that the specifications for natural gas,...

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The Importance of Hiring a Solid Earthwork and Utility Contractor for Your Next Construction Project

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

When planning a construction project, especially in multifamily housing or senior living facilities, the significance of a strong foundation cannot be overstated. At The Douglas Company, a prominent name among general contractors in Ohio and construction companies in Orlando, we understand that selecting a reliable earthwork and utility contractor is crucial for laying the groundwork for a successful build. Based in Toledo, Ohio, with an office in Orlando, Florida, and serving clients across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Florida, our experience highlights the indispensable role that these contractors play in ensuring a smooth and efficient construction process.

Why a Solid Earthwork and Utility Contractor Matters

1. Ensuring Proper Site Preparation

In the timeline of a construction project, site-work and utilities are one of the first steps to occur. Your earthwork and utility subcontractors are the first ones on-site. The initial stages of a construction project involve crucial site preparation tasks, including grading, mass excavation,...

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Optimizing Construction Management: The Importance of Flow of Trades in Project Scheduling

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

 

In the world of construction, the success of any project hinges on a multitude of factors, with the flow of trades being one of the most critical components. A well-orchestrated flow can mean the difference between completing a project ahead of schedule and falling significantly behind. Today, we will delve into how effective scheduling and management of trades can streamline the construction process, reduce delays, and ultimately lead to a successful project completion.

Establishing a Strong Foundation

At the heart of effective construction management lies the importance of creating a detailed and well-thought-out schedule from the outset. This involves more than just outlining tasks; it requires engaging all relevant trades early in the process. By involving subcontractors in the planning stages, project managers can set realistic time frames and expectations. This collaborative approach not only fosters buy-in from the trades but also ensures that both parties understand the manpower requirements necessary to...

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The Importance of Complete and Coordinated Construction Plans

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

 

The success of a construction project relies on a combination of multiple factors that create a domino effect. At the heart of this process lies the most crucial element: a complete and coordinated set of construction plans. Unfortunately, there’s a troubling trend in the construction industry: approximately 90% of the completed construction plans submitted by project owners or architects are found to be incomplete and uncoordinated.

We've seen numerous instances where construction plans arrive missing schedules, critical details, essential notes, and specifications, lacking proper coordination among disciplines like MEP, structural, interior design, and architecture. Often, project owners lack the time or the construction expertise to identify these deficiencies. When they make the final payment to architectural firms, they expect the plans to be comprehensive—yet this is rarely the case. The consequences of incomplete and uncoordinated plans are significant, leading to poor subcontractor coverage, inflated costs, and delays in project timelines.

The Role...

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Are Multi-Disciplinary General Contractors Real? 5 Considerations to Think About in Making a Contractor Selection

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

Construction has to be one of the vaguest industries when it comes to understanding what the businesses in it actually do. What is a Contractor versus a Construction Manager? Can all commercial construction companies build everything? What does mean if you're "Multi-disciplinary" versus "Specialized"? It's not as straightforward as we'd all like, and can be confusing when you're trying to decide who to talk for a construction project. Here are 5 things to think about in the context of selecting on contractor to figure out if they can truly handle your project:

1. General Contractor or Construction Manager

These terms seem to get used interchangeably, to the point where just asking the question alone might not get you what you want to know. Typically, a General Contractor actually carries the licenses to work on the project, and takes on the risk of hiring out all of the work directly and managing the...

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What Does Being a “100% Employee Owned” Company Mean?

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

 

At The Douglas Company, we’re proudly 100% employee-owned. But, when we tell people that aren’t familiar with the concept, they often have a lot of questions. They wonder how employees “own” their company. Is everyone in charge? How does employee-ownership work? 

We think being an employee-owned company is a huge advantage to both our employees and our business. As we enter October – Employee Ownership Month – we want to spread the word about the way we do business and the benefits that come with it.

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Mastering Construction Risk Management: A General Contractor’s Perspective

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

 

When embarking on a new construction project, developers face a myriad of risks—financial uncertainties, scheduling delays, quality control issues, and much more. At The Douglas Company, we understand these challenges deeply. With nearly 50 years in the industry, we’ve refined a comprehensive approach to construction risk management. Our proprietary Integri-D Process is designed to guide you through every phase of your project, ensuring peace of mind and successful outcomes. Here’s a detailed look at how we manage construction risk from a general contractor’s perspective.

1. Risk Management in the Preconstruction Phase

Preconstruction Meetings

Early involvement on the project allows us to be involved early and help direct decisions in the best interest of the project. Additionally, it helps us as the General Contractor to be able to have a finger on the pulse when it comes to drawings and plans.

Detailed Plan Review

Managing risk begins long before the first shovel hits the ground. At...

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Mastering the Preconstruction Turnover Process: Key to Project Success

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

 

In the realm of construction, the preconstruction turnover process is more than just a transition—it's a critical phase that can set the stage for a project's success. At The Douglas Company, a leading general contractor with nearly 50 years of experience, we believe that mastering this phase is essential in ensuring seamless project execution and maintaining high client satisfaction.

Understanding the Preconstruction Turnover

The preconstruction turnover, or the transition from preconstruction to operations, involves transferring all crucial project details from the planning phase to the operations team. This phase is pivotal for ensuring that the operations team has everything needed to execute the project efficiently and effectively. The Douglas Company, with its extensive experience in senior living and multi-family housing projects, knows that a smooth preconstruction turnover is fundamental to project success.

Key Elements of a Successful Preconstruction Turnover

Effective Communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of a successful preconstruction turnover. It ensures that the...

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Maximizing Project Efficiency with Procore: A Key Tool for TDC

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

 

At The Douglas Company, we've been harnessing the power of Procore Project Management Software for nearly eight years, and it's become an indispensable part of our project management toolkit. As general contractors with nearly 50 years of experience, specializing in senior living and multi-family housing projects across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Florida, Procore has proven crucial in streamlining our processes and ensuring project success. Here’s how Procore's features enhance our operations and benefit our clients.

Centralized Project Information

Procore serves as a centralized hub for all project-related information. This is especially vital for us, given the scale and complexity of our projects across diverse locations including Toledo, Columbus, and Orlando. With Procore, our entire project team—whether they're based in our Toledo headquarters or our Orlando office—can access up-to-date project data from anywhere. This remote accessibility ensures that everyone, including subcontractors, architects, engineers, and owners, is always on the same page, leading...

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The Importance of Choosing A Strong Architect for your Next Construction Project

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

In the commercial construction space, especially when focusing on multifamily housing and senior living projects, the path to a successful and profitable project is paved with careful planning, strategic partnerships, and meticulous execution. Working for a General Contractor with nearly 50 years of experience specializing in these sectors, you learn very quickly what components can make or break the profitability of a project. In this series of blog posts, we’ll delve into the five crucial staples of a profitable project that can ensure success and efficiency with your next build. When starting a new construction project, whether it’s a multifamily housing development or a senior living community, one of the most critical decisions you’ll make is selecting the right architect. 

At The Douglas Company, a leading name among general contractors in Ohio, we understand that the architect you choose plays a pivotal role in the success of your project. Based...

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3 Ways to Promote Safety on the Construction Jobsite

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

Recently, the Occupations Safety and Health Administration (more commonly known as OSHA) posted its top 10 most frequently cited standards for 2023. Looking it over, I was unsurprised to see fall protection in the top spot as it has been leading this list for over a decade. I also was not surprised to see ladders come in at number three and scaffolding next in the fourth spot. All of these issues are common throughout the course of construction. In my many years of experience in the construction industry, I’ve witnessed a trend of subcontractors constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to safety while giving very little thought to possible ramifications. However, at The Douglas Company, safety is incredibly important to us. As such, we use three very important methods to promote safety on the construction jobsite

SUBCONTRACTOR PREQUALIFICATION PROCESS

Promoting safety on the jobsite starts before we even step...

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Employee POV: Working in Construction is Worth the Stress

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

I think it is a fair statement to say construction is a uniquely stressful career no matter which side of it you are on. Whether it be in the field performing the work, on the General Contractor side, or Ownership and Development side, there will always be numerous hurdles and challenges that you will face day to day, ones that you wouldn’t in any other field. What makes it all worth it? For me, the people I’ve met along the way and experiences I’ve had at The Douglas Company have made working in construction worth every stressful moment.

On a construction site, there’s the potential to meet all different kinds of people and personalities from all walks of life. You’ll meet skilled tradesmen all offering very different views, bringing new solutions to the table, and pointing out issues that you may not have noticed before. I think that is what makes...

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Client Surveys: How Our Process Leads to Client Satisfaction

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

As a general contractor, client satisfaction is a top priority for us at The Douglas Company. Rightfully so, as happy clients turn into 5-star reviews and strong referrals. But how do we know that our clients are happy? How do we measure customer feedback in a straightforward way that encourages honesty and helps identify areas of improvements? At The Douglas Company, we utilize client surveys on a regular basis to fully understand each client’s individual experience.

REGULAR CLIENT SURVEYS

Each month, our Business Development team reaches out to our clients to get their feedback in the form of a survey and a rating on a scale of one to five. On occasion, we don’t hear anything back.

I don’t know about you, but I get asked to fill out surveys several times a week, in every aspect of my life. With every errand, I’m hit with another customer service survey request at...

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Dialed In: 5 Ways to Make Sure Your Project Team is Prepared to Succeed

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

 

I was listening to a podcast the other day called “Chasing Excellence” by Ben Bergeron and Patrick Cummings. While this podcast is generally centered around Crossfit and athletics, it also tackles being better at life in general.  In this particular episode they talked about how they could tell if an individual would make it or not. This was just based on observing how they behaved. They noted the difference between two rookies coming in after a break in competition. The first rookie, scrambled around, found a snack machine got whatever he could and then sat down and ate.  This individual was visibly anxious and hurried and obviously didn’t do well in the next event.  The second rookie on the other hand finished the event, sat down and reached in his cooler where he had pre-packed exactly what he wanted to eat to ensure that he was properly fueled and ready...

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Leading by Example: On and Off the Jobsite

Posted on | by Savannah Sokol

 

With three kids in tow, I’m not nearly as productive as I’d like to be when working around the house. There’s only so many hours in a day and while slowing down to involve them is 100% necessary, it can also be very challenging. For the past few weeks, we have been trying to install a fence to prepare for the goats we’ll be getting -- at the kid's request, of course. Kade, Kinsley, and Kam like helping, and swinging the hammer when we get a new post set is what they enjoy most. They’ve all watched me pound nails in a hundred times and love to get their own opportunity to do the same. This particular story starts with Kam’s turn -- he’s three, for those keeping track.  

Imitating me, he held the horse shoe nail up on the post to fasten the fence; he swung the hammer and...

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